Ron McClure made his mark on the jazz scene in the mid 1960’s with the big bands of Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich, but is best known for his tenure with the Charles Lloyd Quartet from ’66 to ’69, featuring Keith Jarrett and Jack Dejohnette. Ron later recorded with the Wynton Kelly Trio and with George Coleman. In 1970, with Mike Nock, Eddie Marshall and Michael White, he co-founded the jazz/fusion band The 4th Way." Among his collaborations with mainstream jazz artists Miles Davis Quintet (Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter), Michel Petrucciani, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Paul Bley, and Randy Brecker." Ron major engagements in the 1990s through the early 2000s were with Lee Konitz, and with the reassembled Quest, led by saxophonist Dave Liebman." He is currently a faculty member at New York University’s Jazz Studies Program, which has been his home base for 14 years. He continues to work as a free-lance bassist and has his own quartet.

Jay Sawyer. Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand rising star drummers in New York City. He has shared the stage with artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin, Benito Gonzalez, and Shai Maestro among others. Jay is also a first call drummer for many up-and-coming musicians in New York including Itamar Borochov, Caroline Davis, Tomoko Omura, John Raymond and many more. He has toured extensively in the USA and Europe, including performances at the Montreal, Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France and more. While attending Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois, respectively, Jay studied with some of the most well-respected jazz drummers including Billy Hart, Tim Froncek, Keith Hall and Dana Hall. Each nurtured his passion and skill for the art of jazz drums. As a result, Jay has become a passionate and gifted educator, both as a private lesson teacher as well as in a group setting.